Chapter 7

“Kael...” I breathed, relief flooding through me.

He looked at me calmly. “You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Thank you... for healing me. And for last night.”

His gaze lingered on me for a second, unreadable.

Suddenly, 

“Damn the shift,” Kael said coldly. “Why are you so desperate to crawl back to people who treat you like nothing?”

Before I could respond, hurried footsteps echoed outside.

“Erica!”

It was Lima.

She rushed in, breathless, clutching something in her hand—a small bundle of wildflowers. Her face was pale with panic.

“Why are you bringing me flowers?” I asked, confused.

Her eyes were red. “It’s not for celebration...It’s from someone near the lower valley. They passed me this and told me to give it to you secretly.”

My heart skipped. “What is it?”

She grabbed my hands tightly.

“Salma is in danger.”

Everything inside me froze.

“What?” My voice cracked.

“They said someone from Nightfall Pack took her away this morning. She was sick already. Erica… I think they’re hurting her.”

The world tilted.

“No… No, Justin promised—”

But even as I said his name, I knew promises meant nothing there.

I turned and rushed outside, my mind racing.

I had to go back.

I had to save her.

———

When I returned to my cabin, my steps slowed.

Reality hit me hard.

My body was still weak. Six months of labor, injuries, starvation. I could barely survive my daily shifts. How could I possibly travel back to Nightfall Pack alone?

My legs trembled just thinking about the distance.

But Salma…

She raised me. She protected me. She took the blame for me.

If I didn’t go, she would die.

Even if my body collapsed halfway, I would try.

I clenched my fists.

“I’ll go,” I whispered to myself. “Even if it kills me.”

I could feel someone standing right behind me, close enough that the heat from his body brushed against my back. He didn’t say a word.

Kael's brows furrowed — just like the way his wolf narrowed its eyes.

“You’re not in a condition to walk that far,” he said.

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Oh—he must have heard the conversation just now.

“I don’t have a choice.” I replied.

His gaze sharpened.

Then suddenly—

A powerful aura burst from him.

The air shifted.

Before my eyes, his body expanded, bones reshaping, muscles stretching, dark fur exploding across powerful limbs.

Within seconds, a massive black wolf stood before me.

My breath caught in my throat.

He was enormous.

Larger than any wolf I had ever seen.

His fur glistened under the sun like polished obsidian. His shoulders were broad, muscles rippling beneath thick fur. His red eyes locked onto mine with fierce intensity.

He stepped closer and lowered his massive body.

He jerked his head slightly — signaling me to climb on.

I swallowed hard.

The distance between his shoulders and the ground was intimidating.

As if understanding my hesitation, he lowered himself further.

Under the sunlight, his massive frame was breathtaking.

I thought of Salma’s frail face.

I had no time to be afraid.

Taking a deep breath, I climbed onto his back.

The moment I settled, he rose to his full height.

The ground dropped away instantly.

I gasped and instinctively wrapped my arms around his thick neck. My fingers sank into surprisingly coarse fur, like gripping a heavy wool blanket.

He turned his head slightly, urging me to hold tighter.

Then—

He ran.

Wind sliced against my face like blades.

The forest blurred. Trees became shadows. The earth streaked beneath us.

“Y-You’re so fast!” I shouted, half terrified.

He slowed slightly, adjusting his pace.

Even then, no wolf should have been able to run like this.

The rhythm of his strides was powerful and steady, each bound covering impossible distance.

Who are you? I wondered.

By the time I opened my eyes fully, dusk had settled.

The border of Nightfall Pack stood ahead — invisible electric barriers humming faintly in the air.

“There are no guards here…” I whispered nervously. “We can’t cross without permission—”

He stepped back.

My heart sank. Was he afraid of the barrier?

“Are we going back to Forbidden—”

Before I could finish—

He launched into the air.

My scream was swallowed by the wind.

We soared.

Over the invisible barrier.

Over the territory line.

We landed smoothly inside Nightfall territory without a scratch.

I stared in shock.

How?

Then he turned and walked away into the forest — powerful, composed, untouchable.

I watched him disappear.

And then a thought struck me.

Wait…

How did he know exactly where to bring me?